Liquid dispensing machine



June 16, 1936. COLTQN LIQUID DISPENSING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I l l I l I l l l l I I l l l l llllllllll INVENTOR. %w 4 QJ ZM ATTORNEYS June 16, 1936. M. B. COLTON LIQUID DISPENSING MACHINE Filed March 15, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY Madam. ,CZ-ya/Zm ATTORNEYS June 16, M -T N LIQUID DISPENSING MACHINE Filed March 15, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 K T lwr 1 I INVENTOR. 47 2W /J. 641;.

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ATTORNEYS Patented June 16, 1936 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUID DISPENSING MACHINE Maxwell B. Colton, New York, N. Y.

Application Mai-ch13, 1935, Serial No. 10,812

Claims. (01. 221-116) The present invention has for its objectto prO- outer end, the cup-dispensing device I2 is of the vide a dispensing apparatus for delivering small well-known construction comprisinga removable quantities of antisepticizing liquid, such as mouth glass tube I! wherein paper cups are stacked and washes, and of such a character that it is especialan annular base H on which said tube is mount- 5 ly adapted to be used in public or semi-public ed and containing an ejector which operates to places. discharge a cup through a bottom tube l8 upon Another object of the invention is to provide each inward actuation of said plunger. Because such a machine which is capable of dispensing of this standard construction, a detailed detwo different substances, either of which may be scription of the interior parts of the cup discharg- 10 selected by the operator. ing mechanism is not deemed necessary herein.

To these and other ends my invention embodies It is suitably mounted in the central compartfurther improvements and constructions of parts ment 4 with the discharge tube 8 in registry with as will appear from the following specification an opening in the bottom wall IQ of said compartand which are particularly pointed out in the apment 4, the plate 19 being suitably located above pended claims. In the drawings: the respective bottom walls 20 and 20' of the two 15 Fig. 1 is a front view of a machine embodying side compartments to permit the cups to be disthe invention with portions of the housing broken charged on a bottom ledge 2|, from which they away for the purpose of more clearly illustrating may be conveniently removed for. use.

certain of the interior parts and with certain The rear Wall 9 may extend downwardly to the 20 of these exposed parts shown in section; ledge 2|, which may be secured thereto'and to 20 Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line the partition walls 2 and 21in alignment with the 2 -2 of Fig. 1. bottom walls 20 and 20.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line The liquid dispensers comprise tubular glass 3 -3 of'Fig. 1; vessels 22 and 22 and valves 24 and 24 for con- 25 Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the operating 7 trolling theamount .of liqui to be discharged, 25

mechanism; I I a common operating mechanism in part locat- Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line ed in the central compartment being associated 5 -5 of Fig. 4; with each of said valves. Thefront walls 8,1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line and l are respectively provided with glass win- 6 -6 of Fig. 4; and dows 25, 2B, and 26 for examining the contents 30 Fig. 7 is an enlarged side view of the valve of the containers I6, 22, and 22', the latter being mechanism. open at their upper ends so that theymay be In carrying out the invention I provide a housrefilled by re v of the pp ousing sections ing I having partition walls 2 and 2, forming a III, II, and ii". As shown, the containers i6, 22, central compartment 4 and two outer compartand 22 are respectively provided with removable 35 ments 5 and 5. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, caps or closing members 21, 28, and 28. the front wall 6 of the central compartment 4 Referring to igs. 1 and 2, a coin-collecting is located between the respective front walls i control device 29 pr With a Coin-receiving and 1' of the outer compartments 5 and 5' and p n 30 is dly po i n d in n op n the rear wall 9 common to all compartments, so formed in the front wall 6 of the central com-' 40 that the outer compartments 5 and 5' are caused Dartment- AS best Shown n Fig 4, the device to project frontwardly beyond the central com-- 29 comprises a Shaft 3| having an Operating hanpartment 4, the three compartments 4, 5 and 5' dle 32 secured to its outer end. Except for cerrespectively comprising upper or cover sections tain parts Which are Carried by the inwardly pro- H), II and II, separately removable from the J'ec portion of the Shaft 3 w ich parts will lower fixed portion of the housing. be hereinafter more particularly described, the

In the central compartment is located a cupd v e 9 ay be of a y esired or Well known dispensing device i2 from which the operator is construction, the shaft 3i be ng normally ed supplied with a suitable container for gathering against rotation, but capable of being rotated by dispensed liquid, while in the outer compartthe handle 32 upon insertion of the proper coin ments are respectively located liquid-dispensing into the opening 30. Rotation of the shaft can devices l4 and I4 from which two different mouth only be accomplished in a lockwise direction, the washes or other liquids may be supplied to the op-- co n being collected at the instant the shaft 3! erator. Except for the operating plunger I5, has been turned three hundred and fifteen dewhich has a roller l6 rotatably mounted at its grees or seven-eighths of a complete revolution 55 from normal position and the shaft 3| being capable of being automatically returned to normal position through the remaining one-eighth portion of said revolution. Coin control devices of this nature having become a standard construction, a detailed description of the device 29 is not deemed to be necessary, it being necessary only to indicate the mechanism 1 have added to cooperate therewith in effecting control of the dispensing apparatus contemplated.

At the inner end of the shaft 5| is a gear I4, meshing with a gear 35 having a one to one toothratio therewith and rotatably mounted on a stud 85. The gear 35 is provided at its inner surface with a curved projection or cam 31 over which the roller II on the cup-dispensing lever I5 is adapted to ride during the manual actuation of the handle 32. That is, the roller II is positioned in the path of movement of the cam 31, but normally out of engagement therewith, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. Thus, because of the ratio of the gears 34 and 25, one full revolution of the handle 22 causes the plunger l5, through the medium of the cam 31 and the roller l5 cooperating therewith, to be moved inwardly to release a cup from the device I 2, it being understood that the plunger i5 is restored to normal position by the usual restoring means (not shown) provided for this purpose in the base ll. Preferably, the plunger I5 should not be actuated into cup-releasing position until the coin deposited in the opening 99 has been collected, which condition may be realised by so mounting the gear 35 on the stud ,85 that it is required to rotate at least three hundred and fifteen degrees in order that the plunger may be actuated to its innermost position with its roller in engagement with the apex of the cam 31. It is understood that beyond this point the gear 35 is automatically advanced to its normal position, together with the other rotary parts described, by the usual restoring means (not shown) provided in the device 25, which restoring means become eflective the instant the coin is collected. If the gear I5 is so mounted that the coin is collected prior to contact of the roller II with the cam 31, the restoring means is then utilised to cause the roller ii to ride over the crest of the cam 31 to operate the plunger l5 into cup-releasing position. Since the shaft II and its handle 32 can only be rotated in one direction and are locked against rotation in the other direction when returning to normal position, it is impossible for the operator to again operate the device l2 without inserting another coin.

The operation of the liquid dispensing valves is accomplished by means of a horizontal shaft 40, in part located in the central compartment 4 and extending at its end portions through the walls 2 and 2' into the outer compartments 5 and 5', and through the valves 24 and 24' (see Fig. 1). This shaft is centrally provided with an operating arm 4| which, as shown in Fig. 4, extends downwardly and forwardly through a slot 42 formed in the front wall 5 and in a strengthening plate 44 held adjacent to the rear surface of the wall 4. The slot 42 comprises a horizontal portion a and downwardly extending end portions b and b, the arm 4| being normally maintained in a central position in the portion a by means of torsional springs 45 and 45' disposed on the shaft 49 and each respectively secured at one end to the walls 2 and 2' and at their other ends to the shaft 40. From this arrangement it will be seen that movement of the arm 4| toward the right and its subsequent downward actuation in the slot portion 2: causes a predetermined amount of liquid to be obtained from the device I4 and that movement of the arm 4| toward the left and its subsequent downward actuation in the slot portion b causes a predetermined amount of liquid to be obtained from the device l4.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the valve 24 comprises a fixed member 45 suitably supported on a base 41 fixed to the bottom wall 20, a rotatable member 49 mounted on the shaft 40, and a cupshaped guard 50 enclosing the rotatable member 49 and secured to the fixed member 45. The shaft 40 is free to move longitudinally through both members 45 and 49 and guard 50. The members 45 and 49 are respectively provided with adjacent flat vertical surfaces at and e, which are pressed together to form a liquid tight joint by a coil spring 55 disposed on the shaft 45 and held at one end to the member 49-and at the other to the guard 50 compression being exerted between said member 49 and guard 50. The valve member 46 has upper and lower openings 5| and 52 and in the member 49 is a pocket or slot 54 of predetermined dimensions. The upper opening 5| communicates with a vertical opening 58 engaged by the downward apertured extension of an annular supporting member 51 into which the lower end portion of the glass tube 22 is sealed, while the lower opening 52 communicates with a sloping passage 59 into which engages the upper end portion of a discharge conduit or spout 60, extending downwardly through the front wall 1. The pocket 54 normally communicates at its upper end portion with the inlet opening 5| and is therefore normally filled with liquid from the container 22. A pin 6| extending from the face of the member 46 operates in an arcuate slot 82 in the member 49 and determines the position of assembly of the members 46 and 49. The shaft 40 isprovided with a key 64 positioned to enter a corresponding slot 85 in the member 49 upon actuation of the arm 4| toward the device H from its central position, so that the valve member 49 may be oscillated with the shaft 40 by downward movement of the arm 4| in the slot portion 17. With the arm 4| in its lowermost position in the slot portion b, the inlet opening 5| is closed by the surface e and the slot 54 then communicates at its lower end portion with the outlet opening 52, as shown in Fig. 7. At other times the opening 52 is closed by the surface e. During the oscillatory movement of the valve member 49, the upper opening 5| is closed before any of the liquid in the slot 54 is discharged through the opening 52. It is thus apparent that downward actuation of the arm 4| in the slot portion b causes a definite amount of liquid to be discharged through the conduit 60. As will be hereinafter shown, however, the arm 4| is normally locked against rotation and cannot be operated in the above manner prior to actuation of the coin-control handle 32. The liquid discharged through the conduit 60 may thus be collected in the cup which is caused to be automatically discharged on the shelf 2| upon actuation of the handle 32. Upon receiving the dispensed liquid in said cup, the arm 4| may then be released by the operator, whereupon the valve member 49 and shaft 40 are reversely rotated by the springs 55, 45, 45, the member 49 being thus restored to normal position and the arm 4| being raised in the slot portion b to a position from which it is shifted endwise by the springs 45 and 45 to center the operating lever 4| in the slot (1.

84 is retracted out of engagement with the slot 85.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the device I4 may be similarly operated by movement of the arm 4| toward the left and its subsequent downward actuation in the slot portion b. That is, the shaft 48 also extends through the valve 24' the parts of which are the same as those of the valve 24 and function in an identical manner, a second key 64 (Fig. 1) being positioned on the shaft 48 to enter a slot 85' in the rotatable member 48' of the valve 24'. It is of course understood that the valve 24' is not the exact duplicate of the valve 24, but that certain of its parts should be properly reversed in construction to permit its proper operation. Since the keys $4 and 84' are normally out of engagement with their respective slots 85 and 85, it is impossible to actuate the two devices I4 and I4 simultaneously. When operating the device I4, the arm 4| is of course returned to its central position by the springs 45, 45', and 55.

As will now be described/operation of the devices l4 and I4' in the above manner is only permitted after insertion of the proper coin in the opening 38 and rotation of the handle 82.

Referringto Figs. 4 and 5, a cam I8 provided with a lateral pin II is loosely mounted between two collars I2 and 14 on the shaft 8|, another pin 15 being provided on the shaft 8| to engage with the pin II and thereby rotate the cam 18 with the shaft 8| upon actuation of the handle 82 by the coin-depositor. A third pin I8 extends laterally from the opposite surface of the cam 18 and to the pin 18 is loosely attached the lower end of a spring 11 which determines the normal position of the cam III, the spring l'l being secured at its upper end to a bracket 18 flxed to the front wall has shown in Fig. 2.

.The cam 18 is adapted to cooperate with a roller 88 rotatably carried by a stud 8| extending from a boss 82 formed on a sliding plate 84, the roller 88 being normally held against the cam 18 by a spring 85 secured at one end to the boss 82 and at the other to a bracket 88 flxed to the front wall 5, as also shown in Fig. 2. The plate 84 slides vertically on a support 81 flxed to the bottom wall I8, side flanges 88 and 88 being provided on the member 81 for guiding the plate 84 in its movement. As a further guiding means, a bolt 82 may be secured to the member 81 and aslot 8| formed in the plate. 84 so as to cause the bolt 82 to operate therein, the head of the bolt 82 maintaining the plate 84 in sliding engagemeht with the member 81. The plate 84 is formed with an arcuate extension 88 at its lower end, which extends forwardly around the shaft 48 and is provided with an upwardly projecting rectangular shaped latch 84 adapted to normally engage a longitudinal slot 85 formed in the lower side of the shaft 48. That is, the latch 84 engages the slot 85 when the cam 18 and roller 88 are in their normal position of engagement. The shaft 48 is thus normally locked against rotation, so that it is impossible to operate the valve members 48 and 48'. Tire shaft 48 is nevertheless free to move longitudinally at any time, with the latch 84 riding in the slot 85.

For reasons which will be hereinafter more clearly understood, the pin H is normally located 5 directly above the axis of the shaft 8| in a vertical plane therewith, while the normal position of the pin I5 is such that the shaft 8| is required to rotate one hundred and fifteen degrees in order that the pin I5 may engage the pin II. Thus, during actuation of the handle 82 by the coindepositor, the pin 15 is caused to strike the pin II and the cam I8 is rotated one-half of a revolution from its normal position against the tension of the spring 11, whereupon the cam I8 is automatically returned by the spring 'I'I to normal position in the samedirection of rotation. During this full revolution of the cam I8, the roller 88 is moved downwardly to cause the plate 84 and its extension 88 to disengage the latch 84 from the slot 85. The plate 84 is formed with a lateral projection 86 havinga rearward lug 81 which, uponv downward movement thereof, is locked againstreturn movement by engagement with the hook portion 88 of .a latch I88 pivotally 25 mounted on a pin |8I extending laterally from the support 81, the latch I88 being provided with a counter-weight arm I82 causing movement of the hook 88 toward the plate 84. The plate 84 is thus retained'in its lowermost position, so'that $0 the operator is free to operate either of the devices I4 and H by actuation of the arm 4| in the manner previously described. The movable parts in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are shown in the position which they assume at the instant the handle 82 has 35 been rotated one full revolution.

Preferably; the unlocking of the shaft 48 by downward movement of the latch plate 84 should not occur until the coin deposited in the opening 38 has been collected, which condition may be 40 realized by so relating the normal positions of the pins II and 15 and so constructing the cam I8 that the shaft 3| is required to rotate at least three hundred and fifteen degrees in order that the roller 88 may be actuated to its lowermost position by the action of the cam," thereon. In the embodiment illustrated, the cam is shaped so that the roller 88 is moved downwardly during the movement of the cam 18 to normal position under the influence of the spring 11. Also, with the pins II and I5 normally positioned as heretofore described, the shaft 3| is required to rotate three hundred and fifteen degrees'in' order that the spring 11 may eflect the continued movement of the cam, so that the roller 88 is downwardly actuated after the coin is collected. It is a course understood that the spring 11 should be of greater strength than the spring 85, in order that the cam 18 will under the influence of the spring 11 actuate the roller 88 downwardly against the tension of the spring 85.

The shaft 48 is provided with an upper projection I84 which, during its rotation by downward actuation of the arm 4| in either of the slot portions b and b, raises the arm I82 to cause the hook 88 to disengage the lug 81. Consequently, with the cam 18 already in normal position, when the operator releases his hold on the arm 4| and the shaft 48 is reversely rotated by the springs 45, 45 and or by the springs 45, 45' and 55', the plate. 84 and its extension 88 are returned by the spring 85 to normal position with the roller 88 in engagement with the cam 18 and the-latch 84 again positioned in the slot 85. the latch 84 riding in the slot 85 during retraction of the shaft to its central position. It is thus impossible for the coin-depositor to manipulate the arm 4| to subsequently operate either of the devices I and H without again operating the device 29 by insertion of another coin therein. The slot 95 should be so constructed that the latch 94 is caused to lock the shaft 40 before liquid enters either of the valve pockets 54 and 54 in their return movement to normal position. In this way the arm 4| cannot in any way be manipulated during operation of either of the devices I4 and I4 to obtain more than the amount of liquid allotted by their valve pockets. From the foregoing description it is apparent that the mechanism which I have provided to cooperate with the coin-control device 29 not only makes it im possible to operate either of the liquid dispensers I4 and H prior to actuation of the handle 32, but also effects automatic discharge of a cup from the device I2 as a result of said actuation. Premature discharge of a liquid from either of the liquid dispensers is thus made impossible, the coin-depositor being initially provided with a cup which, because of its ejection on the shelf 2|, may be readily removed therefrom to receive liquid from either of the spouts 60 and 60'. In practice the operator would be instructed to turn the handle 32 one complete revolution after depositing a coin in the slot 30 to enable him to receive a cup on the shelf 2| and thereafter operate either of the liquid dispensers I4 and H in the manner described.

It now becomes apparent that there has been provided a liquid-dispensing machine satisfying the various objects of the invention. It is of course understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment illustrated and described herein, and that this embodiment is subject to various modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising two liquid dispuisers, each having a dispensing valve having a rotatable member, an operating shaft longitudinally movable in one direction toward one valve and in the other direction toward the other valve, means for selectively locking said shaft to either one of the rotatable members for rotation therewith, and an operating arm for actuating said shaft.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising two liquid dispensers each having a dispensing valve having a rotatable member, an operating shaft longitudinally movable from a central position in one direction toward one valve and in the other direction toward the other valve, means for selectively locking said shaft to either one of the rotatable members for rotation therewith, a fixed plate formed with a slot, an operating arm fixed to said shaft and extending through said slot, said slot having a horizontal portion providing longitudinal movement of said shaft from its central position in either direction and downwardly extending end portions respectively providing rotation of said shaft with the rotatable members, and resilient means for restoring said shaft and either of the rotatable members to normal position.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising two liquid dispensers each having a dispensing valve having a rotatable member, a housing for said dispensers, an operating shaft longitudinally movable in said housing in one direction toward one valve and in the other direction toward the other valve, means for selectively locking said shaft to either one of the rotatable members for rotation therewith, an operating arm extending through said housing for actuating said shaft, and discharge conduits respectively extending from the two valves through said housing.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising two liquid dispensers each having a dispensing valve having a rotatable member, an operating shaft longitudinally movable in one direction toward one valve and in the other direction toward the other valve, means for selectively locking said shaft to either one of the rotatable members for rotation therewith, an operating arm for actuating said shaft, mechanical means normally locking said shaft against rotation, and coin-collecting control means operating to render said mechanical means inoperative.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising two liquiddispensers each having a dispensing valve having a rotatable member, an operating shaft longitudinally movable in one direction toward one valve and in the other direction toward the other valve, means for selectively locking said shaft to either one of said rotatable members for rotation therewith, an operating arm for actuating said shaft, mechanical means normally locking said shaft against rotation and including a rectangular latch to cooperate with a longitudinal slot formed in said shaft, and coin-collecting control means operating to render said mechanical means inoperative.

MAXWELL B. COLTON. 

